Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-05-28

: first watch, in th, seco I'd watch, il
D the third watch, OF in the fourth
watch, to be vigiIaut until the day
} break filings it's "m ,rning glories'
, of blooming cloud across the arch
! lug trellis of the sky.
The ancients divided their night
, into four parasitic first watch
from 6 to 0; the second, from o to II
the third from IL to Ban the 70 nth
from 3 to 6.
!; speak now of the city in the
third watch, or from IL TO 3 O'Clock.
1 never weary of looking upon
the life and brilliancy Of the city in
the first watch. That is the hour
when the stores are closing. Their
tailoring men, having Quilted the
scafolding and the shop, are on
their way home. 1t rejoices me to
give them my seat in the city car.
!; They have stood and hammered
sassay all day: Theirfe st.are WearY.
ejsGHc.t <SGst:1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VI
work. They are N ,stIy cheerful.
With appetites sharpened on the
swift turner's wheel and the Car
penter's whetStoneS, they seek che
evening meal. Tue clerks, too, have
broken away from the counter, aud
with braun very OF the long line
OF figures, and the whims OF those
who go IL shopping, seek the face of
mother, or wife aal child. The
merchants are Embarrassed THEM :
selves from their anxieties,o1 their
way up the street. The boys that
lock up are lleaving away at the
shutters, showing the heavy bolts,
and taking a. last look ut the f.e to
see that I'LL is safe. The Streets
are thronged with young man, set
ting out from the great ccntrei OF
bargain making.
Let idlefs clear the straet, aud
give right of way to the bs,weated
artisans and merchants! They have
earned their brea.l, and are now on
their way home to get it.
The lights in full jet hang over
ten thousand evening repaSts -she
parents ut either end Of the table,
the children between. Thank Col,
"who se5Leth the solitary in ia n :
ilies.'
a few hours later, aud all the
places Of amusement go)tl and bud,
are in full tide. Lovers of rt,clt-
alogue in b md, stroll through the
galleries and discuss the pictures.
The ballroom is resplenlenJ with
the rich apparel Of those who, Oh
either side Of the white, glistenluy
boards, await the signal from the
orchestra. The fo35ligh5s OF the
theatre flash up; tue bell rinys,and
the curtain rises; aud out from the
gorgeous scenery glide the actors,
greeted the moderation of tho ex-
pectant mnltitudeS. Concert halls
are lifted into enchantmon5 with
the MARBLE of one soagstre,s, or
swept out on a sea Of tunrltuous
feeling By the. blast Of bralen in'-s
struments. Drawing rooms are
filed Witt all gracefllness Of ap
parel with all sweetness of sound,
with all splendpr of manner; mir
rors are catching ZIP and lltiply-
ing the scene, until it sssln5 as if
in infinite corridors there were gar.
landed groups advancing aud re-
treating.
The ontdooralr rim IS with laugh
ter,and with the moving to AMI frJ
of thousands on the great prone
nades. The dashlng span ssirip
with the foam OF Jh. long county
ride, rushes past as you halt at the
cur6stone.
Mirth, revelry, beauty, fashion,
magniicence mingle in the great
metropolitan picture, uutil the
thinking man goes home TO think
more seriously, AMI The praying
man pray more earnestly.
A beautiful and overwhelming
thing is the city IN che first aud
second watches of the night.
But the clock strikes II, and the
third watch has begun.
The thunder OF the city has rolled
out of the air. The slightest sounds
cut the night with such distinct
ness as to attract your attention.
Tue tlnkiing OF the bell Of the street
car in the distance, and the baying
Of the dog. The stamp Of horse
in the next street. The slamming
of a saloon door. The hiccough of
the drunkard. The shrieks Of the
steam whistle five miles away. D,
how suggestive, my iriouds, the
third watch Of the night!
There are honest men passing up
and down tho street. Here Is a
city missionary who has been CAR
rying d scuttle of coal to that poor
family in that dark place. Here
is an undertaken going up the steps
of a building from which there
comes u bitter cry which indicates
that the destroying angel has slnit.
ten the first born. Here is a min
lister of religion who has been CIV.
lug the sacrament to a dying
Christian. Here is physician
passing along Ill great haste, the
messenger a few steps ahead, hur-
rying on to the household.
Nearly all the lights have gone
out in the dwellings,, for it is the
third watch OF the night. That light
in the window is the light Of the
watcher, for the medicines must be